Journal-bearing-shifting mechanism



- April 13 1926.

B. M.. FITHIAN JOURNAL BEARING SHIFTING MECHANISM Filed March e. i925 am 0,0m

Patented Apr. 13, 1926. A,

e --uN1reD,STATES:

' 'j BLONVIL'LE mtl'rirnmn, 'or naxrnn s PRINGs, xn1vsAs, i

. character stated, which is simple and dur- To all whom'rz't may conc-ern i Be it known that I, BLoNviLLE M. IAN, a, V'citizen of.l the' l United f States, residing at Baxter Springs, in the-.county of Cherokee and State of Kansas, have., invented certain new and useful Improvements in yJour-V nal-Bearing-Shifting Mechanisms, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to mechanism espe-r cially adapted to be used for shifting and holding the journal bearing of a well drilling rig, and it consists in the novel features-l herein described and claimed.

An object of the invention Lis to provide a shifting and holding mechanism of the able, and which will positively and efficiently retain the teeth of planetary gear vwheels in proper mesh with each other, and wherebyone wheel may be moved with relation to the other to compensate for and take up any wear which may occur upon the teeth of either Wheel. v

l/Vith the above object in view, the mechanism includes a frame which is disposed transversely of the shaft upon which one of the wheels is mounted, there being a bear- `the frame, and is adapted to slide along an inclined surface provided withinthe frame.

A One side edge of the block bears against the bearing. 'A Vlever is fulcrumedvupon the frame, andis provided with'y an angularly disposed working'end portion having a slot which receivesV a stud mounted upon the bearing. A rod is adjustably yconnected at one'end portion with the intermediate portion of the power end ofthe lever and is connected at its other end with the said block, whereby when the lever is swung, the block is moved along the inclined surface inthe frame, and the bearing is moved in the frame, so that one'end of ythe bearing may atall times be positioned against one edge wall'surface of the frame and one.

edge of the block may be retained against inclined surface ofthe frame and the adjacent edges'v of the bearing andV block are held in close contact with each other.

lIn the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of thejournal bearing shifting mechanism. v

Figure 2 isan elevation thereof taken at right angles to Figure 1.

5 i, Applica@ ledfmafrfcii 1,9525- .-Seral, .Nol-13,532'.

shownffatfl, and'the'fs'purgear atw2. The teeth'Y of the pinion andthe spur gear are to be maintained in mesh with each` other,

regardless of any wear, which; may takeL place in the teeth. The spur gear 2 is mounted upon a shaft 3, which is journaled 1n a bearing 4. The bearing 4 is slidably lreceived in an opening .5 'provided in a frame 6which s disposedA transversely of the shaft 3. The frame 6 is mounted upon and secured to a fixed support.

The opening 5 in the frame 6 is provided with an inclined side surface 7 ,and a wedge Vleading in from the end thereof, and which receives a stud'12 mounted upon the bearing 4. A gear segment 13 is mounted adjacent the intermediate portion of the lever 9, and the latch mechanism 14 is carried by the lever and adapted to engage'inthe teeth of' ythe segments 13, whereby the said lever 9 is heldat an adjusted position.y A rod 15 is adjustably secured by means ofvnuts 16 to the intermediate portion of vthe lever 9, and one end ofthe' said rod15 is pivotally. connected with the wedge shaped block 8. A spring 17 is connected at one end with a positive means and at its other end with the lever9, and is under tension with a tendency to hold the rod 15 in an elevated position with relation to the lever.

It will be apparent that as wear takes place upon the teeth of the' pinion 1 or the spur gear 2, the lever V9 maybe swung whereby the bearing 4 is moved along the opening 5 in the block 6, and the wedge shaped lock 8 is moved along the inclined surface 7 so thatthe bearing v4 is positively held at an adjusted position Aand the teeth of the spur gear 2 are held properly in mesh with theyteeth ofthe pinion 1.

jiisiiuaffa thi-aecmapanyngarie; Y `ing,l the. pinion of. a1. wellfV drilling p ,rig

Thus, means are provided for holding the Y tive movement, the Wear of the teeth v*is reduced to a minimum, and when such Wear does occur, 1t may be compensated for by edge engaging the bearing, a, lever fuicrumed upon the frame and having a recess t0 receive the stud carried by the bearing, a rod extending from the lever and engaged with the Wedge-shaped block7 and a spring engaged With the rod and the lever for holding the Wedge-shaped block in engagement with thel slantingwall of the opening.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

BLONV ILLE M. FITHIAN. 

